Police keep an eye on tin firms in Bangka Belitung for illegal mining

The Indonesian police are now keeping en eye on three tin processing firms - CV DS Jaya Abadi, CV Dona Kembara Jaya and CV Bangka Putra Karya - operating in the Islands of Bangka Belitung Province for being involved in illegal mining practices, Koran Tempo reported Thursday.

The Indonesian Police Headquarters? spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam disclosed Wednesday that bosses of the three companies - Johan alias Aping, Suwito Gunawan and Joni Siswadi - were under police investigation following a raid on the companies. As many as 93 containers loaded with around 300 tons and license document were confiscated in the police raid, he said.

At least 90 policemen are now keeping watch over the activities of the three companies. The firms continued to operate but were not allowed to sell tin processing products, the daily said.

According to Anton, the three companies have been engaged with mining activities without having complete license document and besides, they have never paid a royalty since their operation three years ago.

Anton said that the illegal mining practices by the three companies have inflicted losses of around Rp7.2 trillion on the state.

He added the three firms allegedly received financial backing from foreign firms considering that the outputs of tin from the companies were exported to many countries, including Singapore, Japan, Thailand and several European countries.

Currently, the world?s tin consumption reaches around 350,000 tons per year. Of the number, 230,000 are supplied by tin producers operating in the Islands of Bangka Belitung.

According to Anton, of the 230,000 tons of tin, 110,000 tons are supplied by producers who conduct legal mining activities and the remainder by illegal tin miners. (*)